Wednesday, July 25, 2018

FOOD is, ostensibly, the theme of this Sunday's Readings. Elisha feeds a hundred guys with the first fruits of barley. And there were leftovers.

Jesus multiplies the loaves and feeds thousands…and there were leftovers.

See a theme here? We did.

We talked about the Eucharist.

"Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them…"

And fed thousands. Pretty much the words in the synoptics to describe Christ's institution of the Sacrament of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

"Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted…"

This led us to reflect on the fragments left over after the distribution of the Blessed Sacrament. Now, most of us — and this is a good thing — are too deeply in union with Christ after receiving His Body and Blood to pay much attention to what the priest is doing. But what he's doing is "purifying the sacred vessels." (Lay people are NOT allowed to do this, by the way. That indult was rescinded by Pope Benedict back in 2006. Please tell your pastor and friends.) The Ordinary Ministers carefully make sure that not one scrap of the species remains in the ciboria and chalice(s).

Also…the remainder of the Sacred Hosts?

Unlike some of our separated brethren, Catholics know that once consecrated, the bread and wine remain, always and forever, Jesus Christ. That's why the Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacle! The remaining Precious Blood is consumed before the chalices are cleansed.

Speaking of "our separated brethren"…pray for Christian Unity!

After Frank beautifully read this Sunday's Epistle, I asked him how many times Paul used the word "one" in this passage alone. At least eight times! Clearly, the Apostle to the Gentiles is urging what we should all strive for…ONE in Christ Jesus!

Paul also speaks of humility (Ephesians 4:2)

Now, as in Paul's time on earth, "humility isn't and wasn't exactly a prized virtue…or a virtue at all! We speak of "humble beginnings," our "humble abodes," and so on. The Greeks eschewed humbleness. Grandeur, then as now, is the goal. Yet, as Nick pointed out, Jesus — by His own example! -- raised this self-effacing service to others to the dignity of a virtue.

Which brings me to this prayer: The Litany of Humility

About five years ago, we prayed this litany, composed by Cardinal Raphael Merry Del Val. At first? It's not an easy prayer. But I promise you…if you stick to it, it can — and will — change your life for the better. Here it is. If you have a smart phone, do what I did (she said, humbly) ;-) and use the Reader's Version for handy reference.

Thanks be to God for a wonderful session tonight. And may God continue to bless you!

Your humble scribe,

Kelly ~~~~Points to Ponder, by Doctor Scott Hahn

Bread Left Over

Today’s liturgy brings together several strands of Old Testament expectation to reveal Jesus as Israel’s promised Messiah and king, the Lord who comes to feed His people.

Notice the parallels between today’s Gospel and First Reading. Both Elisha and Jesus face a crowd of hungry people with only a few “barley” loaves. We hear similar words about how impossible it will be to feed the crowd with so little. And in both the miraculous multiplication of bread satisfies the hungry and leaves food left over.

The Elisha story looks back to Moses, the prophet who fed God’s people in the wilderness (see Exodus 16). Moses prophesied that God would send a prophet like him (see Deuteronomy 18:15-19). The crowd in today’s Gospel, witnessing His miracle, identifies Jesus as that prophet.

The Gospel today again shows Jesus to be the Lord, the good shepherd, who makes His people lie down on green grass and spreads a table before them (see Psalm 23:1,5).

The miraculous feeding is a sign that God has begun to fulfill His promise, which we sing of in today’s Psalm - to give His people food in due season and satisfy their desire (see Psalm 81:17).

But Jesus points to the final fulfillment of that promise in the Eucharist. He does the same things He does at the Last Supper - He takes the loaves, pronounces a blessing of thanksgiving (literally, “eucharist”), and gives the bread to the people (see Matthew 26:26). Notice, too, that 12 baskets of bread are left over, one for each of the apostles.

These are signs that should point us to the Eucharist - in which the Church founded on the apostles continues to feed us with the living bread of His body.

In this Eucharist, we are made one body with the Lord, as we hear in today’s Epistle. Let us resolve again, then, to live lives worthy of such a great calling.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

How CATHOLIC is Psalm 23??? Or, rather, how does Psalm 23 refer to the Sacraments?

Normally we just prayerfully — and silently --- reflect on the Responsorial Psalm in our session...but tonight was special!

Aside from the usual grumblings about the translation of the Psalm in this Sunday's Mass…

We really got into it, from a Catholic point of view, and it was wonderful! What, for example, is the "banquet" and the "cup overflowing" and the "table?" And the "restful waters?" And the OIL???

They're the Sacraments!

Our Shepherd gives us an amazing banquet of His Body and Blood! The TABLE IS THE ALTAR! And let's not forget the "oil," which is used to anoint us in Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, The Sacrament of the Sick — amazingly wonderful!

"Thy Rod and Thy Staff"…what's the difference?

Pat and Frank got it immediately when I asked the question, but they spoke so low I didn't here them. Did you ever wonder about that? No? Well, you should! :-)

Here's the thing about a good shepherd:

A good shepherd carries a rod to ward off enemies of his sheep — like wolves.

His staff is not just for walking, but — you know how the bishop's crook has that little curved thing on the top — you know, the stick that looks like that thing in old time movies that roughly remove the flops on the vaudeville stage? That's to gently but firmly bring back the sheep that go astray…the shepherd simply cuffs the little lamb — think Little Bo Peep here to get an image — and brings the little guy back to the fold! So, in Psalm 23 — just from the parts read this Sunday alone! -- we've got the Eucharist, pretty much all the other Sacraments, and a bishop to boot!

Of course, Jeremiah led us to good things…and some arguments…

…or rather, we let the passage do so. My fault. I compared the tragic division of the Chosen People with the tragic division among Christians. Probably because some of us were at Mass today at Saint Francis Chapel and heard Father Michael Warren's homily, which centered on the schism between Roman and Orthodox Christians, which he based on today's Gospel. (Matthew 11:25-27). Again, my fault. If I told myself once, I've told myself a zillion times: do not try to "figure out" the Trinity! (Fortunately, no bones were broken, and we continue to pray that, as Saint John Paul II prayed, "that the Church will breath with both lungs." Enough to say: the Holy Spirit DOES proceed from the Father and the Son.)

Take it easy…if you can.

It's pretty easy to understand, on reading this Sunday's Gospel, why priests especially are pretty much required to make a retreat periodically. As a wise confessor once told me (I'd rather self-righteously I must admit), to being annoyed at the "interruptions" I'd had to "put up with" from people while I was striving for quiet prayer in a church. "Interruptions," he told me, "are a part of prayer. Jesus Himself was constantly `interrupted' while at prayer. Read the Gospels!"

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus commissions His Apostles to go off and spread the Gospel. One of the Sacraments mentioned is the Anointing of the Sick, also called Extrreme Unction, especially when administered to the dying.

Father Michael Warren explained a part of this in a homily awhile back, and it seems to me extremely important to share it with you:

Apostolic Pardon

I can't quote Father Michael exactly, but I will tell you it made such an impression on me that I've been telling everybody I know about it — whether they want to hear it or not. From EWTN:~~~~~~~~The Apostolic Pardon (or blessing) is an indulgence given in situations of danger of death, usually after the absolution of the sacrament of penance. The focus is on the remission of temporal punishment due to sin. The words of the prayer explain the meaning of the act: "Through the holy mysteries of our redemption may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy." Or "By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."The Handbook of Indulgences #28 states: "Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the apostolic blessing, with its attached indulgence. But if a priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary indulgence. In such a situation the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition 'provided they regularly prayed in some way.'" ~~ Reverend Mark J. Gantley, JCL.

~~~~~~~~~

Here's what Father Gantley didn't mention. Some priests are unaware of this indulgence. If you're ever in a situation where you or another is near death — ask for the Apostolic Pardon. I mean, don't do it if you're suffering from a cold or a hangnail or something like that, but in the case of imminent death? Don't hesitate. If the priest looks at you with those deer-in the-headlights look, call another priest. Any Roman Catholic priest can administer this pardon, but --- incredibly enough — some priests don't know it. Remember it!

Do you have to be a "pro" to be "called?"

There's no such thing as a "professional Catholic evangelist." Now, yes, while there are evangelists who are paid for what they do — diocesan priests come to mind — it's not necessary to be an expert to be called by God. This sorta seems to be the theme of this Sunday's Readings. Amos wasn't a "prophet," nor even a son of one. But God called this guy who was probably really good at tending sheep and trees…and he said "yes." And look at the Apostles! Let's see, we have our fishermen, we have our tax guy, we have our kid — yet all of them said "yes." The word "yes" is key!

Lori asked an interesting question:

I'm paraphrasing her, but I think the gist is this: "Did those called in the Bible (and therefore, I'm adding parenthetically, do we) actually hear the voice of God when called?" She was referring to, I believe, the folks in the Old Testament…like Amos and Abraham and Noah and all our good friends. And the answer is:

:::::::::drumroll:::::::::::::

I don't know. I thought of Elijah, who heard the voice of God in a whisper. Moses and the burning bush. Catherine remembered an Oblate Brother who actually heard God calling him to the priesthood. Me? Sometimes — well, for example, I got the urge yesterday to tell a lady who looked like she was about to give birth at any moment, struggling with a couple of kids, that she was beautiful and that her beautiful family had made my day. And she was! And she did!

Nobody was much impressed by my "Dick and Jane" primer books approach to reading the Bible, but hey, that's my theory and I'm sticking with it (until somebody tells me I'm nuts AND DON'T YOU DARE!!!) :-)

Anyway, it was a blessed session, and I thank God for sending His Spirit to be with us tonight.

And I thank you for your prayers…please keep them up! We pray for you all the time.

Your humble scribe,

Kelly ~~~~~~

The Council of Trent on the Anointing of the Sick:

“This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark [cf. Mk 6:13], but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord: “Is any among you sick?” he says, “let him call for the elders [presbyteros] of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” [James 5:14-15] (Council of Trent, 1551 A.D.; cf. CCC 1511)

Points to Ponder, by Doctor Scott Hahn

The Church’s Mission

In commissioning the apostles in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives them, and us, a preview of His Church’s mission after the resurrection.

His instructions to the Twelve echo those of God to the twelve tribes of Israel on the eve of their exodus from Egypt. The Israelites likewise were sent out with no bread and only one set of clothes, wearing sandals and carrying a staff (see Exodus 12:11; Deuteronomy 8:2-4). Like the Israelites, the apostles are to rely solely on the providence of God and His grace.

Perhaps, also, Mark wants us to see the apostles’ mission, the mission of the Church, as that of leading a new exodus - delivering peoples from their exile from God and bringing them to the promised land, the kingdom of heaven.

Like Amos in today’s First Reading, the apostles are not “professionals,” who earn their bread by prophesying. Like Amos, they are simply men (see Acts 14:15) summoned from their ordinary jobs and sent by God to be shepherds of their brothers and sisters.

Again this week, we hear the theme of rejection: Amos experiences it, and Jesus warns the apostles that some will not welcome or listen to them. The Church is called, not necessarily to be successful, but only to be faithful to God’s command.

With authority and power given to it by Jesus, the Church proclaims God’s peace and salvation to those who believe in Him, as we sing in today’s Psalm.

This word of truth, this gospel of salvation, is addressed to each of us, personally, as Paul proclaims in today’s Epistle. In the mystery of God’s will, we have been chosen from before the foundation of the world - to be His sons and daughters, to live for the praise of His glory.

Let us, then, give thanks for the Church today, and for the spiritual blessings He has bestowed upon us. Let us resolve to further the Church’s mission - to help others hear the call to repentance and welcome Christ into their lives.---stand>